Indicator



Oct. 9, 1928.

M. H. 'WINKLER I NDICATOR Filed June 28, 1927 gwue'nto o JYHWMZZW;

Q-Htoz wag DOWNS Patented Get. 9, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

MOSES H.- WISKIIER, F MERIDIAN, MISSISSIPPI.

' INDICATOR.

Application filed June 28, 1927. Serial No. 202,089.

This invention has reference to an indicator for use in a football-game, and the object of the invention is to avoid any misunderstanding on the part of the players'and officials as to the immediate situation of the game a ter each play or down by visibly indicating the impending down and l the yardage to be gained. Y

This information is usually given verbally by the linesmen to the o'lilcials and playersbut as there is naturally a great amount of'noise and confusion during foot-ball games-the information conveyed is frequently misunderstood and it has been necessary from time to time for the linesmen to repeat the-same.

However, by visibly indicating after each play the downs and yards to gain, the possibility ofa misunderstanding between the linesmen and the officials. and players is reduced to a minimum. I V 7 It is a further object of the invention to provide an indicator of the character described which is of a light, durable, structure so as to be easily carriedupon occasion by the head linesman or his assistants, and which has a pointed end for thrusting in the ground as the sole supporting means for the device.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the construction. combination, and arrangement of parts here inafter described, andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a front elevat on or an'indicator constructed tion,

in accordance with the inven- Figure 2, a central, longitudinal, sectional view of the indicator, and

Figure 3, a cross sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2. i

Describing the invention in detail, the body portion of the same is indicated atA, which consists in a galvanized casing so formed as to present a long andfrelatively narrow or shallow receptacle composed of the back wall 1, side walls 2. and the top and bottom walls 3 and 4. At its top, the casing is provided with a handle 5 whereby it can be conveniently carried and atits lower end it has a pointed supporting bracket 6 which is adapted to be thrust into the ground for maintainingthe indicator in an upright position. As

illustrated, the supporting bracket maybe composed of two bracket members a and 6 Se cured to opposite sides of the casing, as shown at 7, and converging towards the centerline of the casing so as to meet and be fastened together as-shown at 8; the fastened portions 10 extending in a straight line with the center of the casing and being pointed at the end 11,

so as to be, easily forced into the ground a sufiieient depthto holdthe device upright.

A slide cover 12 fits over the open side of r i the casing and isslidablyretained in place by means of the cover flanges 13 which engage over the, flanges 14; of the casing. A stopflange 15 at the topof the slide cover abuts withthe top of thecasing and limits the downward sliding movement of the, cover, as will be apparent from Figure 2. v

Two sets of indicating means are employed; oneito indicate the downs, and the other to indicate the yards to gain. The means for indicating the downs consists of a comparatively short belt or'web of canvas'16disposed in the upper portion of the casing and having on its face the indicating numerals 1, 2,

3, and 4, arranged consecutively and suitably spaced. At its upper en'd, the belt 16 travels around a roller 17 and at its lower end around a fixed rod 18. The numerals are displayed through an opening or window 19 ,in the upper part of the slide cover 12, above which opening is printed'or otherwise placed the word Downs. The means forindicating the yards to gain consists of acomparatively long belt or web of canvas 20, the lower end of which travels around a fixed'rod 21 placed nearthe bottom end of the casing. The belt 20 extends for about three fourths of the length .of the casing andtravels at its upper end around a roller 22. The face of the long belt is provided with indicating numerals from 1 to 10 inclusive which are displayed th ough an opening or Window 23in the cover,

above which opening is printed or otherwise placed the legend Yards to gain. Each roller 17 and 22 is provided with a handle 24 whereby it may be rotated for moving the belt to cause a selected numeral to appear in the adjacent opening or window in the cover of the device. I

In order thatthe belts may be held taut and smooth, they are so arranged within the casing that they overlap and press against each other at their adjacent ends, the pressure being suflicient to accomplish this without preventing the belts from moving when the handles are turned. This is accomplished in the present instance, as shown to advantage in Figure 2, by having roller 17 of belt 16 and .rod 21 of belt 20 substantially centered between the front and back walls of the casing and by placing roller 22 of belt 20 and rod 18 of belt 16 respectively on opposite sides of the center of the casing, the rod 18 being below.

the overlapping portions supported by the side walls of the casing close to opening23 and about midway the top and bottom edges of the opening,,the belt 20 being caused to pass between the stretcher rod and the opening. This ar angement not only provides for the displaying of the indicating numerals free from wrinkles and folds, but also insures snfiicient friction between the belts and rollers, so that the former will move readily upon rotation of the rollers to expose selectednumerals.

During'the game, the indicator is carried by the head linesman or one of his assistants in following the play of the contesting teams, and is preferably positioned on or near the side lines of the foot-ball field with the indicating numerals facing the players and officials. After each play, the one in charge of th device may, by simply turning the handles to cause the selected numeral or numerals to be displayed, make known quickly and clearly the impending down and the number of yards remaining to be gained in the allotted number of downs. r I Being of light weight and portable, the indicator can be readily transported from one part of the playing field to another and quickly positioned at any desired point by merely thrusting the pointed end into the no other means of support being ground, required.

The above description has reference to only one particular embodiment of the invention but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise details of con struction herein shown and described; Modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth. in the claims.

I claim: Z 1. A portable indicator for foot-ball games comprising a casing having windows, a pair of endless belts within the casing having indicating numerals adapted to be exposed signature.

through tl is Windows, said belts being so arranged that they verlap and press against each other at adjacent ends, and independent.

diverging branches between which the casing is mounted.

3. A portable indicator for football games coi'nprising a casing having supporting means, .aid casing being formed to present a long shallow receptacle, a slide cover for the casing having relatively upper and lower windows, a belt inthe upperportien of thecasing having signal characters adapted to be exposed through the upper window, a belt in the lower portion of the'casing having signal characters adapted to be exposed through the lower window, andindependent means for operating the belts to expose selected characters at the respective windows.

4. A portable indicator for foot-ball games comprising a casing formed to present a long shallow receptacle, a slide cover for the casing having relatively upper and lower windows, a short belt in the upper portion of thecasing having signal characters adapted to be eX- posed through the upper window, a long-belt in the lower portion of the casing having signal characters adapted to be exposed through the lower window, said belts overlapping and pressing against each other at their adjacent ends, and independent means for operating the belts to expose selected characters atthe respective windows. V

5. A portable indicator for football games comprising signalling means, handle means on the said signalling means, and supporting means comprising a grouml-penetrating blade having diverging portions between which the signalling means is mounted.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my MOSES n. WrNKLsn. 

